I have always been interested in industrial design courses at Emily Carr so of course during my third year I decided to take one with Christian Blyt, the furniture design instructor. In groups of 3 we were tasked to design & produce a home accessory (x5), it's brand identity, and packaging. These products were to be sold at Walrus, a local Vancouver store. Our ideation stage started with many sketches and different ideas of what accessory we would want to make, that would benefit its user's and also be relevant for Vancouverites.
We started with three different sketching/prototype focuses: conceptual, indoor activities, and rain/umbrella holder. The feedback we received from Walrus steered us in the direction of indoor activities, which then led us to designing an innovative yoga block. We started to move away from cardboard and moving towards MDF and wood for our prototypes. These prototypes went through a user-testing process and we noted the positions and comfort levels of each product we provided.
We created a mold out of MDF once we decided that our yoga block would be "ribbed" with thick layers of veneer. By doing this, the block would be lightweight, the form would be unique, and the production would be extremely cost effective. We were able to do this by using a vacuum bag that shapes the veneer.
Our very first yoga block had 9 layers of veneer on both the interior and exterior forms. We inserted thin wood strip to attach the pieces together and got feedback from our class and the Walrus owners.
We were very pleased with the feedback we received and moved forward on enhancing our design by trying out a new way to attach without using the thin wood strip. Instead, we adjusted our molds so that both pieces of the yoga block would come together, creating a triangular form which increases the strength of the block, and also enhances the perceived value of the object by simplifying it. We kept the same amount of veneer layers (9) and began working quickly and efficiently to finish all our blocks. We also started to experiment with other veneer wood types and even changing the color of the interior faces to brighten the block's core.
Being a Communication Design major, I was more inclined to work on the brand identity and packaging of our yoga block. I began to play with different names for branding and positioning of the sleeve.
Going into the final stages of our yoga block, we decided that the brand name would be NU, that the sleeve would include icons of the different positions to use the block, and that we would engrave our logo on the bottom right corner of every block we produce. I designed the logo by drawing inspiration from the block itself, and I created the sleeve using InDesign and Illustrator; the backside of the sleeve included small blurbs about each of us (Yujie, Rowena & myself) and our experience with the project. Each block was finished with Tung Oil to deepen the wood color and provide a water resistant coating.
Our final critique was very successful and we were asked to provide straps for the store so that customers would have two products available to them at one location. We made them and also embroidered the logo onto them. The straps were made in a woven black and light canvas color. The final price for our yoga block was $75 CAD and the strap was $15 CAD.
Once everything was done and the course had ended, I was asked to work on the graphics for the opening event at Walrus Home. I worked closely with Caroline & Daniel at Walrus and Christian Blyt, my instructor, to ensure that set-up and identity of the event matched that of Walrus. I designed descriptions for each project, and together we decided each projects' place on the wall. The event was held on May 9th at Walrus Home in Vancouver. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside such amazing designers and classmates. I enjoyed every moment of collaborating and fusing two design practices into a fully-realized product. This experience has definitely molded me into a greater designer and granted me an incredible amount of real-world experience. Thank-You.
